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T O P I C R E V I E W

model maker

I was watching a program about the moon on the Science Channel and they showed the lunar rover's television camera panning around the landing site long after the astronauts had left the moon.

How long afterwards did those cameras on the rover work and is there any video from NASA that shows the landing site with the decent stage sitting alone on the surface and any video of the landing site itself after the astronauts were long gone or even back on earth?

topmiler

Apollo 17's Lunar Rover camera sent pictures for another 27 hours after they left. Don't know if there's any footage of it around though.

SpaceDust

Here's a 35 second video of the Apollo 17 landing site:

Gonzo

Awesome video! Kind of eerie seeing the descent stage there alone.

Saturn V

The Spacecraft Films DVD's for the Apollo missions have the footages you want. I would highly recommend their purchase. I have them all and can attest to their thoroughness.

ilbasso

I remember that the Apollo 15 LRV camera abruptly shut off just a matter of hours after the LM ascent. People were joking at the time that "moon gremlins" had flipped the power switch.

garymilgrom

I believe cooling capacity was the limiting factor.

mikepf

I agree, Moon Gremlins!

model maker

Thank you for posting the video, that is exactly what I was looking for. How long after the departure did the cameras still operate?

quote:Originally posted by Saturn V:The Spacecraft Films DVD's for the Apollo missions have the footages you want.

Is there a particular Apollo video that shows the most after departure video? The one I saw on tv also panned up and saw the earth over the decent stage and also the bottom of the umbrella antennae on the LRV.

Saturn V

It is my understanding that the footage on the Spacecraft Films DVDs for 15 and 17 are all of the footage that was made/recorded. 17 has the most.

Dwight

All 3 "J" missions had coverage from the GCTA after the LM acsent stage had lifted off.

In the case of Apollo 15, plans were made to capture an eclipse, but the camera failed prior to this occuring. Also, the failure of the tilt mechanism severely limted to what was shot during the remaining life of the TV system. Transmission ended approximately at 168:20 GET.

Apollo 16 coverage continued for some time after the LM had left the lunar surface. Although once all useful imagery had been obtained the circuitry was switched off. TV ended approximately at 175:40 GMT.

For Apollo 17, an attempt was made to shoot the LM as it crashed back on the lunar surface after being jettisoned by the crew once they re-docked with the CSM. Despite knowing where to point the camera they were unsuccesful in capturing the event. TV coverage from the abandoned Taurus-Littrow region continued for the longest of all the missions. End time for the actual transmissions is unknown.

Information obtained from "Live TV From the Moon" by Dwight Steven-Boniecki who is a great guy and moderately handsome.

model maker

That is video I would really enjoy seeing, the panning of a deserted landing site to give almost the same feeling that some future explorers will have once someone from the future visits the landing sites. Too bad the LRV cameras weren't powered by solar batteries and could still be operated today, imagine!

Does anyone have any more video?

Dwight

Have a look over at the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal. If I recall correctly, they have video clips of post launch lunar terrain.

Tykeanaut

It would have been great to see those sites now.

spaceman1953

You all continue to amaze me with the questions you come up with! Of course, the answers are equally amazing!

Lifelong learning! The key to a long and fruitful life, I am convinced! THANKS!

schnappsicle

I have all the Spacecraft Films from Mercury to Apollo 17 mission. Apparently, there is some footage on the Apollo 17 disc, but I've never watched that. Their website says it goes on for a few days, in short bursts of course. However I am familiar with the Apollo 15 disc which shows the landing site two days after Scott and Irwin left the surface. Its been a while since I've watched that particular footage, but I think it pans around once before finally going out. I'm not sure how long it lasts, but I know it's short. Possibly 3 minutes or so. It was very eerie when I saw it the first time. I never knew it existed before I got the discs.

You're curiosity has made me curious enough to go back and explore the Apollo 17 disc to see what that footage is like.

model maker

I would like to know what you see on the Apollo 17 LRV camera and how many days afterwards it recorded. Too bad those cameras couldn't be fired up today, I bet THAT would look very lonely and erie! I think we all would like to see the condition of the things left behind.